San Diego International Airport

Located two miles west of San Diego's central business district and 15 miles from Tijuana, San Diego International Airport is situated on North Harbor Drive. For people who plan to drive there, access from most main roadways is quite easy. The airport is served by I-5 with connections to I-8, I-15, and State Route 163. The main thing to remember is to make sure you leave plenty of time for the trip, so you can get to San Diego International Airport two hours before the departure of a domestic flight and three hours before an international flight departure. It's much better to arrive early, so you can park comfortably and enjoy some of the airport facilities, rather than having to rush to board immediately.

If you are approaching San Diego International Airport from the Cruise Ship Terminal, go west on North Harbor Drive and you'll see the terminals after about two miles. Drivers coming from I-5 Northbound should take the San Diego Airport/Hawthorn Street exit and turn right on North Harbor Drive. Those approaching from I-5 Southbound can take the San Diego Airport/Sassafras Street exit, follow Kettner Boulevard, and turn right at the Sassafras Street traffic light, left at the Pacific Highway, right at Laurel Street and right onto North Harbor Drive. From State Route 163, take State Route 163 Southbound to I-5 North and follow the directions for I-5 Northbound; from I-8, take State Route 163 or I-5 Southbound and follow the relevant directions above.

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The main option available for passengers who prefer to use public transport to travel to and from San Diego International Airport is a 10-minute ride on the Flyer Route No. 992. This is a Metropolitan Transit System bus traveling between the airport and San Diego. The bus stops between Terminals 1 and 2 at San Diego International Airport. Wheelchair access is available on the bus.

Trains do not stop at San Diego International Airport. However, the Flyer Route No. 992 bus service connects with the Trolley, Coaster, and Amtrak train stations. Train passengers heading to or from the airport can therefore link up with the bus service for part of their trip.

One way to get to San Diego International Airport by road without having to drive or worry about parking is to take a taxi. Many cab companies provide an efficient service to and from the airport. If you want to take a taxi from the airport, look for the signs to the Transportation Plaza where a transportation coordinator can help you find an available cab.

You can also rent a car at San Diego International Airport. There are regular shuttles operating from the center traffic aisle at Terminal 1 and the traffic island at the west end of Terminal 2 to take people to car rental sites. Otherwise, you can use a courtesy phone near the baggage claim areas in the terminals to ask for shuttle transport to a car rental company.

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While getting around on the ground can be difficult and tiring at some airports, the traveling is easy and convenient all the way at San Diego International Airport. The airport has provided a number of options for the many passengers who pass through each year to ensure their stay is as comfortable and hassle free as possible. Regular shuttle services make life easy and operate frequently between terminals and from parking lots to help you get to your destination quickly. Look for the Red Bus line that offers a free transportation service from terminal to terminal and runs about every 10 minutes. There are curbside Red Bus stops at each of the three terminals at San Diego International Airport. For the convenience of people with disabilities, the Red Bus vehicles are all wheelchair accessible.

There are also a number of companies with vans and buses operating off-airport shuttle services between San Diego International Airport and various destinations. To find these services, you will need to go to the curbside area outside the Commuter Terminal or to the airport's Transportation Plaza opposite Terminals 1 and 2. For access to the Plaza from Terminal 1, cross the skybridge and then use the escalators or elevators to reach street level. If you are accessing the Transportation Plaza from Terminal 2, you can use the pedestrian crosswalk outside the Terminal 2 baggage claim area or cross the Terminal 2 skybridge before using the escalators or elevators to go to the street level.

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If you want to park your car at San Diego International Airport, you'll find convenient locations outside each of the airport's three terminals. Both short-term and long-term parking is available. Long-term parking gives you the option of leaving your vehicle at the airport for up to 30 days. You can also take advantage of short-term parking on a daily basis at San Diego International Airport. Keep in mind that curbside parking is not allowed at the airport. Only brief stops at the curb for loading and unloading are allowed. If your car is left unattended at the curb, it may be towed away.

For drivers who need just a temporary stopping-off point while they wait to collect an arriving passenger, San Diego International Airport offers a cell phone waiting lot where you can park for no cost for one hour. This area is open 24 hours a day and gives you somewhere to wait until your passenger is ready to be collected and contacts you by phone. Remember that you must remain with your vehicle at all times if you use this area. Otherwise, if you are picking up a traveler, you can park in a short-term lot near the terminal and arrange to meet your passenger in a convenient location such as the baggage claim area.

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The arts are alive and well at San Diego International Airport. For those who enjoy music, the airport presents a free jazz concert, entitled Terminal Jazz, on the second Friday of each month. The concerts, held in the Terminal 2 baggage claim area from 7pm-9.15pm, feature quality jazz artists. Part of the Performing Arts program at San Diego International Airport, these concerts offer patrons the chance to relax and enjoy the airport's facilities.

Children are an important part of the overall art program at San Diego International Airport. The International Aviation Art Contest for young people is a popular event, held each year by the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority and the San Diego Air & Space Museum. Those taking part in the contest design pieces of art centered on the theme for the year. The works of the 2007 winners have been featured in a special calendar.

Within the airport there are many examples of artwork that make fascinating viewing. The massive mural of Charles Lindbergh of the east wall of the Commuter Terminal, one of the first sights to greet people arriving at the airport, is just the start of the engrossing art tour you can enjoy while visiting San Diego International Airport. Sculptures, mosaic art, glass panels, and paintings are some of the works you can see while you are there.

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There's always somewhere to relax when you are waiting for a flight at San Diego International Airport. Comfortable rest areas are available throughout the airport terminals where you can sit with friends or spend some quiet time alone while waiting for your flight. There are also a variety of clubrooms provided by airlines, offering areas where you can get away from crowds and do some work or just take it easy and unwind. These include the American Airlines Admirals Club, the Delta Crown Room in Terminal 2, and the United Red Carpet Room in Terminal 1.

A special area is the Neil Ash USO Center where members of the United States military and their families can relax in the lounge and enjoy the other amenities. Located on the ground floor of Terminal 2 in San Diego International Airport, it includes a coffee bar and snack area, large screen television, showers, and a children's playroom. For those who want to get some work done while waiting for a flight, it also offers computer and Internet service, a conference room, and a reading room. There is a luggage storage area for the convenience of visitors, as well as a flight information monitor.

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Excellent food and exciting shopping add to the enjoyment of spending time at San Diego International Airport. Dining options are located throughout the airport and offer something for everyone, from a snack you can grab on the run to a delectable sit-down meal at a restaurant. Try the food court in Terminal 1 for a taste of anything you fancy, treat yourself to a Mexican dish in Terminal 2 East, or opt for a pizza or deli sandwich in Terminal 2 West. In the Commuter Café in the Commuter Terminal, you can enjoy a snack or savor the pre-prepared Sushi available there.
Don't forget to leave some time for shopping while you are at San Diego International Airport. In both Terminals 1 and 2, you'll find a fascinating selection of shops where you can stock up on gifts and souvenirs, browse among books, or add to your supply of candy for the journey. Buy a postcard and send it to a friend, take home some local coffee mugs, or pamper yourself with some new skin care products. Whatever you need, you're sure to find it, or something even better, among the retail outlets at San Diego International Airport.

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A band of volunteers is ready and waiting to greet and help visitors to San Diego International Airport. The Volunteer Airport Ambassadors have a wealth of information about the airport that they are more than willing to share with other people. As well as walking around the terminals, creating a visible presence in their green shirts, they also staff information booths in Terminals 1 and 2. You can stop a volunteer whenever you need help, or go directly to either of the booths that are open between 8am and 11pm.

Administered by the Travelers Aid Society of San Diego, the Volunteer Airport Ambassador Program is managed by the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority. Whether your needs are related to business, accommodations, transportation, or anything else connected with your trip, the volunteers can point you in the right direction or find someone to assist you. They are trained to help travelers with such information and always provide it with a smile, making your trip easier than you would have thought possible. Find someone wearing a green shirt with "Airport Information" on it, and you can be sure you've found a friend at San Diego International Airport.

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The need for accessibility services can sometimes be a worry for you or a member of your family when you are traveling. It is not a problem, however, at San Diego International Airport, where a wide range of facilities and services is in place to help make the journey easier and more comfortable for anyone with a disability. Escalators and elevators are available, as well as phones that are conveniently placed, and TDD (Telecommunications Device for the Deaf) equipped for people with speech or hearing difficulties.

If you need direct help, you can use any of the courtesy phones in San Diego International Airport to contact Airport Paging and ask for accessibility services. Help will be on its way quickly, with the nearest available airport representative sent to look after you and your needs. You can also obtain assistance from one of the airport volunteers, who roam the terminals ready to offer help and advice. If you need to use a shuttle service to travel around the airport, rest assured that they have vehicles equipped to help people with special needs.

Need Transportation? Call 800-984-4303